BAHIA
Speech of His Excellency Senhor Doctor José Marcelino de Souza
Governor of Bahia
At a Banquet given by him to Mr. Root, at Bahia, July 24, 1906
It is not without reason that the entire world is elated at the grand spectacle exhibited in the New World congregating its free and independent peoples in order to lay the foundations of a lasting peace.
In fact, the Old World looks on with sincere admiration at the complete demolition of the ancient precepts of international law. Ever since the right of the stronger has ceased to supersede the sound principles of justice; ever since the divine philosophy of the Jews taught men brotherly love for one another, the ancient international law underwent profound transformations.
Notwithstanding this, however, for a long time armies and costly navies continued to weigh down our public treasuries and the cannon continued to decide questions arising among nations.
Now, all Europe has its eyes turned towards America, which has noteworthily constituted itself the apostle of peace.
For a long time the American peoples have been settling their difficulties by means of arbitration.
It is this policy that is seen to be manifesting itself since the downfall of the ancient institute of international law which, instead of causing the people on the other side of the Atlantic fear, ought to fill them with joy, because it tightens the international economic and commercial relations of this planet.